Attachment for fireplaces



June 29, 1937. w. H, FRANKLAND 2,085,646

ATTACHMENT FOR FIREPLACES Filed Sept. 2, 1936 Patented June 29, 1937 ATTACHMENT FOR FIREPLACES William H. Frankland, Tampa, Fla. Application September 2, 1936, 'Serial No. 99,127

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for fireplaces, whereby the said fireplace may be employed in connection with stoves having pipes, in order that the draft from the stove may be conveyed to the ordinary chimney of said fireplace.

An object of the invention is to provide a unit which will render it possible to install fuel oil, coal, or wood stoves in association with the ordim nary fireplace draft openings to a chimney.

It is an object furthermore of the invention to seal or close entirely the chimney opening of the fireplace and to provide communication between the stove and the chimney of the fireplace through the installation of a removably applied attachment which can be expeditiously fitted to fireplaces of different dimensions or sizes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention indetail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, wherein like char acters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of a fireplace with a device embodying theinvention applied thereto;

Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan View of the attachment; and

r Figure 4 illustrates an end view.

In the drawing 5 denotes an ordinary fireplace, with the chimney connection 6 communicating with it. At the top of the fireplace where it merges with the chimney, a device embodying the invention is installed and, in the present embodiment of the invention, it consists of a horizontally disposed top plate I having a space 8 at the rear, which communicates with the chimney. The top plate is associated with a breast plate 9 having a stove pipe opening l0 therein and a curved bottom plate H has its outer edge secured to the breast plate by an ordinary lapped joint I2, or other mechanical fastening. The top plate, the bottom plate and breast are appropriately attached together, and the said top plate has at its rear edge a depending fiange I3 which is secured to the wall of the fireplace by fastenings M, such as expansion screws or bolts. The rear edge of the bottom plate has ears or lugs I5 which are likewise anchored to the masonry of the fireplace by fastenings M. The top plate may have its ends turned down to form flanges it that are secured to the masonry of the fireplace by fastenings such as have been described.

In making the unit or attachment to be in- 5 stalled in fireplaces, the top plate can be made large enough so that the attachment can be installed in fireplaces of different dimensions, for it would only be necessary to cut thetop plate to the required length and shape the flanges l 6 so 10 thatthe said flanges I6 and the flange l3 can be attached to the masonry of the fireplace.

It is obvious from an inspection of Figure 2 that if a stove pipe were installed in the opening l0, it would discharge into the chamber above 15 the bottom plate II and the draft of the chimney would cause circulation of the products of combustion from the stove pipe so that they would escape through the chimney.

An installation embodying the invention has 20 many advantages aside from those stated in the objects of the invention, for by its use the danger occasioned by the employment of ordinary fireplace fronts is eliminated as it seals only the upper part of the fireplace and does not provide a closed space therebelow where dangerous gases may accumulate as they sometimes do when the opening of the fireplace is sealed from the front.

Furthermore, this invention has the advantage of materially accelerating the draft, as com- 30 pared with that developed with ordinary fireplace fronts and when properly applied, a perfect seal may be produced even though there are irregularities in the brickwork or masonry of the fireplace, as it has been found that with the use of 35 asbestos compounds or other sealing agencies which can be applied through the stove pipe opening, the joint between. the attachment and the fireplace may be closed,

The attachment is neat in appearance, since 40 it is practically hidden from view at the top of the fireplace opening and it is not necessary to remove the unit when the stove is disconnected.

Furthermore, by this invention, heat from the stove pipe in its passage to the chimney heats 5 the front or breast plate and the bottom plate, and such heat radiating therefrom into the room containing the fireplace results in an economical heating of the room containing the stove for, as stated, the fireplace opening to the chimne 50 is entirely sealed by the unit.

It is obvious from the foregoing that the parts of the attachment for fireplaces can be manufactured by the well-known stamping processes, and that the said fireplace attachment, except for 55 the bottom plate, can be formed from one piece of metal similar to the processes employed in stamping automobile fenders or the like.

I claim:

1. In an attachment for fireplaces, a horizontally disposed front plate having end flanges adapted for attachment to the masonry of a fireplace, a breast plate depending from the horizon- V tal plate at the rear thereof and a bottom plate ing from the rear edge thereof and having a stove pipe hole, a bottom plate having its outer edge secured to the breast plate and its inner edge abutting the rear wall of the fireplace, and means for securing the bottom plate to the masonry of the fireplace.

3. In an attachment for fireplaces,'a top plate having end flanges extending inwardly for engaging the rear Wall of a fireplace, means for anchoring said flanges to the masonry of the fireplace, a breast plate carried by the top plate having a stove pipe hole, a bottom plate secured at its outer edge to the breast plate, anchoring lugs on the said bottom plate, and mechanical fastenings for securing said lugs to the masonry 'of the fireplace. 

